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Questions and Answers
What is the main focus of modern policy regarding bilingualism?
What is the main focus of modern policy regarding bilingualism?
What was the main focus of Labov's New York department store study?
What was the main focus of Labov's New York department store study?
How can language varieties impact the criminal justice system?
How can language varieties impact the criminal justice system?
Who identified the area in Sunderland related to a hoax tape linked to a serial killer?
Who identified the area in Sunderland related to a hoax tape linked to a serial killer?
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According to Bernstein, what characterizes the elaborated code compared to the restricted code?
According to Bernstein, what characterizes the elaborated code compared to the restricted code?
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What is a key characteristic of sociolinguistics compared to formal linguistics?
What is a key characteristic of sociolinguistics compared to formal linguistics?
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What controversial claim did Bernstein make regarding restricted codes?
What controversial claim did Bernstein make regarding restricted codes?
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Which form of linguistics did early sociolinguists challenge?
Which form of linguistics did early sociolinguists challenge?
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What is the primary distinction between accents and dialects?
What is the primary distinction between accents and dialects?
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Which of the following reflects a practical application of sociolinguistics?
Which of the following reflects a practical application of sociolinguistics?
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In what decade did pioneering work in sociolinguistics begin to establish alternative ways of analyzing language?
In what decade did pioneering work in sociolinguistics begin to establish alternative ways of analyzing language?
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What was the primary outcome of Labov's observations in department stores?
What was the primary outcome of Labov's observations in department stores?
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What does the term 'shibboleth' refer to in the context of language variation?
What does the term 'shibboleth' refer to in the context of language variation?
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How does code switching benefit speakers in different social situations?
How does code switching benefit speakers in different social situations?
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What is the descriptivist tradition that sociolinguists follow?
What is the descriptivist tradition that sociolinguists follow?
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What theory proposed by Sapir and Whorf is mentioned in the context of Bernstein's work?
What theory proposed by Sapir and Whorf is mentioned in the context of Bernstein's work?
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What characterizes an idiolect?
What characterizes an idiolect?
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What characteristic of restricted code could negatively affect working-class children according to Bernstein?
What characteristic of restricted code could negatively affect working-class children according to Bernstein?
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According to current educational policies, how is Welsh language usage affected over time?
According to current educational policies, how is Welsh language usage affected over time?
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In the exercise about code switching, why does the lawyer use Pidgin in casual settings?
In the exercise about code switching, why does the lawyer use Pidgin in casual settings?
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What is the main characteristic of 'rhotic r' as studied by Labov?
What is the main characteristic of 'rhotic r' as studied by Labov?
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Which of the following statements about accommodation in language is true?
Which of the following statements about accommodation in language is true?
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What might trigger a speaker to use code mixing during a conversation?
What might trigger a speaker to use code mixing during a conversation?
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Which statement best exemplifies the concept of dialect?
Which statement best exemplifies the concept of dialect?
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What is the primary meaning of the term 'pidgin' in linguistic context?
What is the primary meaning of the term 'pidgin' in linguistic context?
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Which of the following is an example of a semantic shift?
Which of the following is an example of a semantic shift?
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What is one key distinction between cardinal and relative directions in language?
What is one key distinction between cardinal and relative directions in language?
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What does the term 'semantic derogation' refer to?
What does the term 'semantic derogation' refer to?
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What linguistic change is illustrated by the merged vowel sounds of 'bear' and 'beer' in New Zealand English?
What linguistic change is illustrated by the merged vowel sounds of 'bear' and 'beer' in New Zealand English?
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In the experiment with English speakers and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr, how did the placement of the tree differ?
In the experiment with English speakers and speakers of Guugu Yimithirr, how did the placement of the tree differ?
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Which Old English word is suggested to be weather-related and means something akin to 'sky'?
Which Old English word is suggested to be weather-related and means something akin to 'sky'?
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What is the term that describes a change in language style to match that of an interlocutor?
What is the term that describes a change in language style to match that of an interlocutor?
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What was the focus of Peter Trudgill's linguistic study in Norwich, England?
What was the focus of Peter Trudgill's linguistic study in Norwich, England?
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Which aspect is NOT generally considered under language variation?
Which aspect is NOT generally considered under language variation?
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How might language influence thought regarding spatial orientation?
How might language influence thought regarding spatial orientation?
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What example of sound change involves the dropping of 'y' in words beginning with 'ye' in Japanese?
What example of sound change involves the dropping of 'y' in words beginning with 'ye' in Japanese?
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Why is the phenomenon of accommodation in sociolinguistics notable?
Why is the phenomenon of accommodation in sociolinguistics notable?
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What does the past tense of 'dive' illustrate in terms of language change?
What does the past tense of 'dive' illustrate in terms of language change?
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What main conclusion can be drawn from the experiment involving Guugu Yimithirr speakers?
What main conclusion can be drawn from the experiment involving Guugu Yimithirr speakers?
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What type of variation refers to differences based on age within a language community?
What type of variation refers to differences based on age within a language community?
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Study Notes
Early Sociolinguistics
- Early sociolinguists challenged structuralist linguistics, arguing language is complex and influenced by context.
- Labov's New York department store study showed variation in pronunciation based on social class.
- Basil Bernstein studied the influence of social class on language use, introducing "elaborated" and "restricted" codes.
Cardinal vs. Relative Direction
- Some languages use relative directions (left, right), while others use cardinal directions (north, south, east, west).
- Guugu Yimithirr speakers use a cardinal system for orientation, affecting their spatial memory, as demonstrated by a study involving placing objects in different rooms.
Language Variation
- Sociolinguists study language variation across phonetic, dialectal, gender, racial, ethnic, and age groups.
Language Variation: Accommodation
- Accommodation is a change in pronunciation and style influenced by the interlocutor.
- It can be subtle or intentional, and sometimes mistaken for imitation.
Language Variation: Accents and Dialects
- Accents are variations in pronunciation based on region.
- Dialects are language sub-varieties with distinct morphology, syntax, and vocabulary.
Language Variation: Shibboleth
- This term refers to a distinguishing linguistic feature, such as pronunciation, used to identify a person's geographic origin.
- It originated from a biblical story where Ephraimites were identified by their pronunciation of "shibboleth."
Language Variation: Idiolects
- Refers to an individual's unique usage of language or dialect, often influenced by their environment, experiences, and social groups.
Language Identity: Code Switching/Mixing
- Changing language variety or style based on situation or need, sometimes even switching languages within a sentence.
Language Change: Semantic Shift
- Language constantly evolves, with semantic shift being a common form of change.
- Words can acquire new meanings, like the word "gay" transitioning from "happy" to its present-day connotation.
Language Change: Semantic Derogation
- Linguistic change that results in a more negative association, particularly observed in terms related to women.
- Many curse words have developed from innocent origins.
Language Change: Diffusion
- Sound changes happen gradually, merging previously distinct sounds.
- Sounds may be dropped or altered over time, like the dropping of the "y" in Japanese words beginning with "ye".
Case Study: Peter Trudgill - Language Change in Norwich
- A study that tracked language change in Norwich over 15 years, from 1968 to 1983, showing vowel mergers.
Sociolinguistic Applications: Forensic Linguistics
- Sociolinguists can assist in criminal justice by clarifying communication issues related to language variety or dialect, and by analyzing language to identify or rule out suspects.
Summary
- Sociolinguistics is a relatively new field, challenging traditional approaches to language analysis and emphasizing the influence of social factors.
- Applications of sociolinguistics include informing education policy, identifying potential injustices, and analyzing communication in legal contexts.
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